CHRONICLES OF WALTHAM.

BY

THE AUTHOR OF "THE SUBALTERN,"

"THE COUNTRY CURATE," &c.

Man is dear to man, the poorest poor
Long for some moments in a weary life
When they can know and feel that they have been
Themselves the fathers, and the dealers out
Of some small blessings; have been kind to such
As needed kindness, for this single cause,
That we have all of us one human heart.

WORDSWORTH.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

1835.

ADVERTISEMENT.

NOTHING could be easier than to inform the reading public, that the Narratives interwoven into the following Volumes were discovered by me in an old chest, or compiled by a deceased friend; and that I only attended to his dying request when I sent them to the Press. The time for using such a device has, however, gone by, and I therefore believe that it is best to state frankly and fairly at the outset, that the Tales themselves are to be regarded as nothing more than a vehicle by means of which I